Fifth-wheel coupling for vehicles



l' (No Model.)

' D. D. GITT.

Fifth AWheel Coupling for Vehicles.

No. 239,042. i Patented March 22,1I881.

DANIEL D. GI'IT, OF AHREND'ISVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIFTH-WHEEL COUPLING FOR VEHICLES.

`SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,042, dated March 22, 1881.

Application filed January 24, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL D. Grrr, of Ahrendtsville, in the county of Adams and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Coupling and Fifth-Wheel; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in combined couplings and fifth-wheels; and it consists, first, in casting the lower part of the fifth-Wheel in a single piece with a socket for thecoupling which is attached to the reach, whereby the usual kingbolt is dispensed with and a much stronger, cheaper, and more durable fastening is produced; second. in forniing a project-ion upon the casting which forms both the lowe` part of the fifth-wheel and the socket, and pivoting the upper part of the fifth-wheel upon this projection, as will he more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to do away with the usual king-bolt, and to form a coupreach in any suitable manner.

ling for the reach which will allow either one of the axles to twist or turn without bringing any strain upon the fifth-wheel or any other part of the vehicle.

Figure l, is a side elevation of my invention complete. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the casting which forms both the socket and the lower part of the fth-wheel- Fig. 3 is a vertical section of my invention.

A represents the axle; B, the clip 5 and (l, the casting, which is fastened to the axle by means of the clip, as shown in Fig. 3. This casting, as will be seen, forms both the lower parts, D, of the fth-wheel and the socket for the coupling F, which is to be fastened to the That part of the castingvwhich forms the fth-wheel rests solidly upon the axle; but all of that part of the casting which forms the socket extends down below the top of the axle, so as to be in adirect line with the reach as it extends forward from the rear axle. In addition to the clip, by means of which this casting C is secured to the axle, the castingis provided with the ears Gr, through which screws are passed into the axle so as to assist in holding the casting` rigidly in place.

Extending horizontally through the casting, on a level with the center of the axle, is an opening, the front partof which forms a socket for the ball I, which is formed upon the front' then the casting is secured to the axle by means of both clip and screws, as shown.

The great advantage in the use of the balland-socket joint, as here shown, consists in the fact that `either one of the axles may get out of line with the other without bringing the slightest strain to bear upon the fifth-wheel or coupling, which is not the case where the usual king-bolt is employed.

By the use of a ball-andsocket joint, as here shown, either the front or the rear portion of the vehicle may twist or turn to any desired extent without bringing the slightest strain to bear upon the other axle, thus making not`only a better coupling but a much stron ger, cheaper, more durable, and safer one. King-bolts are always more or less liable to be broken when the front wheels run down into ruts or any other sudden strain is brought to bear upon them; but where a ball-and-socket joint such as is here shown is used no strain of any kind can ever affect the vehicle in the slightest respect, and hence the vehicle is always safer and stronger.

Upon the top of the casting (l, at any suitable distance in the rear of the axle, is formed a circular projection, O, of any suitable size, and which forms the pivot upon which the upper portion, P, of the fth-wheel turns.

Upon the top of the upper portion of the fifth-wheel is placed the washer Q, and down through this washer into the projection is passed a fastening-bolt, R. As the projection is long` enoughto extend slightly above the top of the upper portion of the fth-wheel this washer bears directly upon the top of the projection, so that no matter how tightly the IOO Washer may bel clamped in position by means ofthe screw it Will not in any manner affect the fifth-Wheel itself. Through this upper part of/t'he fifth-Wheel will be formed any suitable openin gs for securing the springs orothersuitable fastenings of' the buggy to it.

It is my intention to use in connection with this coupling a compound zigzag spring which Will allow the body of the vehicle to turn and twist Witlrmueh greater freedom than the usual elliptic springs Will do, and hence the strain will be very greatly lessened upon the couppleasant riding` movement.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The casting C D O, provided with asocliet to receive the front end ot' the coupling F, in

combination with the clip B and the upper part of the fifth-Wheel, substantially as shown.

2. In a coupling for vehicles, a casting having a horizontal opening through it, the front part of the opening forming a socket and the rear part of the openin g being widened out so as to allow the couplingalateral play, in cornbination with a coupling having a ball formed upon its front end, and which ts in the socket in the casting, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day ot' 3o ling and the body have amuch easier and more l J anuary7 1881.

DANIEL D. GITT.

Witnesses:

J. E. WiBLn, JOHN HAMITTE. 

